Marcus Ezelle
Marcus Ezelle
District: Circuit Judge
Comments
Article
By JASON GEARY
THE LEDGER
Among all the 10th Judicial Circuit judges, Marcus Ezelle got the top marks for acting professionally, according to The Ledger's biennial survey of local lawyers.
Overall, he ranked third among 28 circuit judges, with a total average rating of 8.41 out of 10.
But Ezelle's strongest individual category - an 8.80 for professional conduct - was the highest of any judge. His lowest rating was 8.24 for written decisions.
In 2008, Ezelle was ranked fourth among 25 circuit judges with an overall rating of 8.15.
This year, one critical comment accused Ezelle of being too lenient on enforcing rules.
"Wants parties to work it out on their own, prolonging litigation," a lawyer wrote.
However, most of the anonymous comments were positive toward Ezelle's performance on the bench.
His current assignment is overseeing cases in Hardee County.
One lawyer wrote Hardee should be proud to have him as a judge. Two others wrote they wished Ezelle could be assigned to Polk County.
"It is too bad that Judge Ezelle likes to practice in Hardee," one wrote. "We could use his legal acumen in Bartow."
Some described him as compassionate, friendly, urbane, thoughtful and fair.
"The grand master of soft-spoken control," one lawyer wrote. "Genial beyond compare."
After reviewing the comments and results of the survey, Ezelle quoted poet and author Maya Angelou: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
He also spoke kindly about the lawyers who appear before him.
"Most of the lawyers I see in court make you proud of the profession," he said.
Ezelle, 57, earned his law degree from Mercer University in 1978.
He and his wife, Carol, live in Wauchula. They have three children.
| 2010 Overall | Legal Ability | Communication Ability | Written Decisions | Professional Conduct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.41 | 8.28 | 8.32 | 8.24 | 8.80 |
Comments
Compassionate to a fault.
Friendly; easy to deal with.
One of the most outstanding judges I have ever encountered in all my years of practicing law.
Extremely capable and fair.
The grand master of soft spoken control. Genial beyond compare. Has learned temperance and benevolence. Gives all a fair shake and praise. Makes me proud to be a lawyer in his court.
Great judge.
Best judge in the circuit.
Urbane, a true scholar and gentleman.
Thoughtful, considerate judge. Is very knowledgeable and has a rational approach to legal issues. A pleasure to practice before.
Extremely fair.
Hardee should be proud.
Wonderful, compassionate.
Too lenient on enforcing the rules. Wants parties to work it out on their own, prolonging litigation.
Very fair.
What a nice man.
Good lawyer; now a great judge.
Wish he could be in Polk County.
A gentleman, rational and decisive.
Very good judge.
Unknown to me until he took the bench. A really pleasant guy. All judges should take note.
Good judge.
It is too bad that Judge Ezelle likes to practice in Hardee. We could use his legal acumen in Bartow.
Good judge.
Outstanding judge and an even better person. We need more judges like him.
Very good and fair judge.
Had him a few times when he first rotated through.
Friendly; easy to deal with.
One of the most outstanding judges I have ever encountered in all my years of practicing law.
Extremely capable and fair.
The grand master of soft spoken control. Genial beyond compare. Has learned temperance and benevolence. Gives all a fair shake and praise. Makes me proud to be a lawyer in his court.
Great judge.
Best judge in the circuit.
Urbane, a true scholar and gentleman.
Thoughtful, considerate judge. Is very knowledgeable and has a rational approach to legal issues. A pleasure to practice before.
Extremely fair.
Hardee should be proud.
Wonderful, compassionate.
Too lenient on enforcing the rules. Wants parties to work it out on their own, prolonging litigation.
Very fair.
What a nice man.
Good lawyer; now a great judge.
Wish he could be in Polk County.
A gentleman, rational and decisive.
Very good judge.
Unknown to me until he took the bench. A really pleasant guy. All judges should take note.
Good judge.
It is too bad that Judge Ezelle likes to practice in Hardee. We could use his legal acumen in Bartow.
Good judge.
Outstanding judge and an even better person. We need more judges like him.
Very good and fair judge.
Had him a few times when he first rotated through.
Article
By JASON GEARY
THE LEDGER
Among all the 10th Judicial Circuit judges, Marcus Ezelle got the top marks for acting professionally, according to The Ledger's biennial survey of local lawyers.
Overall, he ranked third among 28 circuit judges, with a total average rating of 8.41 out of 10.
But Ezelle's strongest individual category - an 8.80 for professional conduct - was the highest of any judge. His lowest rating was 8.24 for written decisions.
In 2008, Ezelle was ranked fourth among 25 circuit judges with an overall rating of 8.15.
This year, one critical comment accused Ezelle of being too lenient on enforcing rules.
"Wants parties to work it out on their own, prolonging litigation," a lawyer wrote.
However, most of the anonymous comments were positive toward Ezelle's performance on the bench.
His current assignment is overseeing cases in Hardee County.
One lawyer wrote Hardee should be proud to have him as a judge. Two others wrote they wished Ezelle could be assigned to Polk County.
"It is too bad that Judge Ezelle likes to practice in Hardee," one wrote. "We could use his legal acumen in Bartow."
Some described him as compassionate, friendly, urbane, thoughtful and fair.
"The grand master of soft-spoken control," one lawyer wrote. "Genial beyond compare."
After reviewing the comments and results of the survey, Ezelle quoted poet and author Maya Angelou: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
He also spoke kindly about the lawyers who appear before him.
"Most of the lawyers I see in court make you proud of the profession," he said.
Ezelle, 57, earned his law degree from Mercer University in 1978.
He and his wife, Carol, live in Wauchula. They have three children.
District: Circuit Judge
Comments
Article
By GARY WHITE
The Ledger
Judge Marcus Ezelle has been on the bench of the 10th Judicial Circuit for less than two years, but apparently he has established himself as one of the circuit's most respected jurists.
Ezelle ranked fourth out of 25 circuit judges assessed in The Ledger's biennial survey of local lawyers, with a cumulative average of 8.15 out of a possible 10. Ezelle, the administrative judge for Hardee County, placed fourth in each category - legal ability, communication ability, written decisions and professional conduct.
Ezelle, elected in 2006 after six years as a county judge in Hardee, drew overwhelmingly positive comments from lawyers taking part in the survey. One called him the "best judge in the entire circuit." Others described him as scholarly, diligent, considerate and knowledgeable.
One lawyer declared it is "a pleasure to practice before him."
"Certainly those comments are very encouraging for one to continue to exert yourself to be the kind of judge that the public has a right to expect and lawyers do," Ezelle said.
Ezelle particularly appreciated learning that a lawyer said he is "great at explaining the process to clients."
Ezelle said he puts special emphasis on doing that. He said the judicial process can be bewildering to people, and he wants to make sure they understand what is happening in court.
The judge drew a few criticisms. One respondent called him "a little pompous," and another said he's "maybe a little too verbose." Another claimed he "occasionally gives confusing and nonsensical orders."
Ezelle said he recognizes and tries to control a tendency toward verbosity.
Ezelle, 55, was born and raised in Wauchula, where he still lives. He earned a bachelor's degree in classics from the University of South Florida in 1974 and a law degree from Mercer University in 1978. His current term expires in 2012.
He and his wife, Carol, have three children.
| 2008 Overall | Legal Ability | Communication Ability | Written Decisions | Professional Conduct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.15 | 8.10 | 8.21 | 7.83 | 8.46 |
Comments
Marcus Ezelle
A gentleman--always.
A great judge and a great human being.
A great man and judge.
A little pompous.
A true gentleman, perfect disposition.
A very good judge; very diligent and hardworking!
An excellent judge in all respects; scholarly, fair, respectful, puts thought and reason into all his decisions.
Best judge in the entire circuit.
Excellent judge.
Good scholarly and considerate.
Great at explaining the process to clients; maybe a little too verbose though.
Great judge.
Kind and patient judge, but occasionally gives confusing and nonsensical orders.
One of the best on all levels.
One of the most respectful, thoughtful and knowledgeable judges in the circuit; a pleasure to practice before
him.
Total professional and a real gentleman; fair minded!Very friendly; knows everyone in Hardee County; patience
of a judge.
Very professional, while also being extremely personable.
A gentleman--always.
A great judge and a great human being.
A great man and judge.
A little pompous.
A true gentleman, perfect disposition.
A very good judge; very diligent and hardworking!
An excellent judge in all respects; scholarly, fair, respectful, puts thought and reason into all his decisions.
Best judge in the entire circuit.
Excellent judge.
Good scholarly and considerate.
Great at explaining the process to clients; maybe a little too verbose though.
Great judge.
Kind and patient judge, but occasionally gives confusing and nonsensical orders.
One of the best on all levels.
One of the most respectful, thoughtful and knowledgeable judges in the circuit; a pleasure to practice before
him.
Total professional and a real gentleman; fair minded!Very friendly; knows everyone in Hardee County; patience
of a judge.
Very professional, while also being extremely personable.
Article
By GARY WHITE
The Ledger
Judge Marcus Ezelle has been on the bench of the 10th Judicial Circuit for less than two years, but apparently he has established himself as one of the circuit's most respected jurists.
Ezelle ranked fourth out of 25 circuit judges assessed in The Ledger's biennial survey of local lawyers, with a cumulative average of 8.15 out of a possible 10. Ezelle, the administrative judge for Hardee County, placed fourth in each category - legal ability, communication ability, written decisions and professional conduct.
Ezelle, elected in 2006 after six years as a county judge in Hardee, drew overwhelmingly positive comments from lawyers taking part in the survey. One called him the "best judge in the entire circuit." Others described him as scholarly, diligent, considerate and knowledgeable.
One lawyer declared it is "a pleasure to practice before him."
"Certainly those comments are very encouraging for one to continue to exert yourself to be the kind of judge that the public has a right to expect and lawyers do," Ezelle said.
Ezelle particularly appreciated learning that a lawyer said he is "great at explaining the process to clients."
Ezelle said he puts special emphasis on doing that. He said the judicial process can be bewildering to people, and he wants to make sure they understand what is happening in court.
The judge drew a few criticisms. One respondent called him "a little pompous," and another said he's "maybe a little too verbose." Another claimed he "occasionally gives confusing and nonsensical orders."
Ezelle said he recognizes and tries to control a tendency toward verbosity.
Ezelle, 55, was born and raised in Wauchula, where he still lives. He earned a bachelor's degree in classics from the University of South Florida in 1974 and a law degree from Mercer University in 1978. His current term expires in 2012.
He and his wife, Carol, have three children.